Days of Our Lives Spoilers Report: Explosive Custody Battle & EJ’s Shooting Mystery

Welcome back, devoted Days of Our Lives fans. Salem is bracing for two storylines that promise to shake the very foundations of the town: Tate Black’s heartbreaking custody war and the shocking mystery surrounding EJ DiMera’s shooting. Let’s dive into each dramatic arc step by step.

Tate Black’s Explosive Custody Battle

The Shattering Betrayal

Tate Black (Leo Howard) is standing at the edge of a devastating revelation. What began as a teenage pregnancy has spiraled into one of the most audacious schemes Salem has ever witnessed. Sophia Choi and District Attorney Melinda Trask masterminded a deception involving forged documents, fake pregnancy bellies, and a fabricated adoption plot that robbed Tate of knowing the truth about his own child.

This isn’t youthful panic—it’s a calculated campaign of manipulation. Sophia’s lies weren’t just about saving face; they were designed to erase Tate from his son’s life completely.

Melinda Trask: Puppet Master

Behind the web of lies stands Melinda Trask, Salem’s ruthless DA. Far from offering legal advice, Melinda personally engineered fraudulent adoption papers, created fake communication channels with non-existent adoptive parents, and even supplied Sophia with props to keep her false pregnancy timeline intact.

Why would Melinda risk everything? Her own history with teenage pregnancy may have blurred her judgment, leading her to believe this deception was “protecting” Sophia. Instead, it’s set both women on a collision course with criminal charges that could end their futures—and careers—forever.

Tate’s Transformation: Heartbreak to Fury

For weeks, Tate believed his newborn daughter had been taken by adoptive parents in Chicago. He grieved in silence, devastated, as his attempts to arrange visits through the fake adoption agency failed.

But the cruelest twist? His real son—Toro—was right under his nose, being cared for by Javi Hernandez and Leo Stark. Their foster bond was highlighted in one pivotal moment: baby Toro stopped crying instantly when Tate held him at the Brady Pub. That instant recognition, born from blood, will haunt Tate once the truth comes out.

When Sophia’s lies collapse, Tate’s sorrow will ignite into fury. He won’t just seek shared custody—he’ll demand full custody, arguing that Sophia’s manipulations prove her unfit to raise their son.

Sophia’s Crumbling Facade

Sophia’s lies were airtight—until Dr. Sarah Horton discovered medical records that contradicted her story. The pressure of maintaining this charade is visibly consuming Sophia. Her exhaustion and constant pain reflect the crushing psychological weight of knowing her entire future rests on a deception that’s unraveling fast.

Every lie has consequences, and Sophia’s will bring devastating fallout.

The Legal War Ahead

The courtroom battle promises to be one of the most explosive in Days history. Fraud, conspiracy, perjury, and parental alienation will all be on the table. Trask faces not only criminal charges but possible disbarment. Sophia risks losing custody entirely.

At the center of it all is baby Toro, whose peaceful life with foster parents Javi and Leo may be shattered. The court will have to decide: is Tate’s rage-fueled fight for justice truly in the child’s best interest?

EJ DiMera’s Shooting Mystery

While Tate prepares for war, Salem is rocked by another bombshell: the attempted murder of EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel).

EJ’s Hunt for the Shooter

Recovering in his hospital bed, EJ obsesses over who pulled the trigger. In a tense exchange with psychiatrist Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), he accuses her of hiding the shooter’s identity. He’s convinced it’s a woman close to him—perhaps Sami Brady, Belle Black, Kristen DiMera, or Gabi Hernandez.

Each suspect has motive, but none quite fit. Then comes a shocking theory: what if the shooter is Marlena herself?

Marlena’s Dark Possibility

At first, it sounds absurd. Marlena is Salem’s moral compass. But her recent struggles—grief over John Black’s death, haunting nightmares, and resurfacing memories of her time under Stefano DiMera’s control—suggest a darker possibility.

Could Stefano’s influence from beyond the grave still linger? Fans recall his mastery of brainwashing and psychological control. Perhaps he implanted a trigger in Marlena years ago, one that has now resurfaced.

A Sinister Supernatural Twist

Imagine Stefano’s spirit, trapped in torment, desperate to claim Marlena’s soul. By pushing her to commit a sin as grave as attempted murder, he could drag her away from John’s heavenly embrace and bind her to him in eternal damnation.

In this chilling theory, Marlena shot EJ not out of malice, but as a puppet of Stefano’s lingering control—her good heart forcing her to wound rather than kill. The guilt is crushing, and her protective silence may be less about hiding someone else, and more about shielding her fractured psyche.

What Comes Next

As these storylines unfold, viewers can expect:

• Courtroom fireworks as Tate fights for custody of Toro.

• Sophia’s downfall as her lies collapse under medical and legal scrutiny.

• Melinda’s reckoning, possibly losing everything she’s built.

• EJ’s quest for truth, which may uncover Marlena’s darkest secret.

• Supernatural undertones, reminding us that in Salem, even death doesn’t silence the DiMeras.

Final Thoughts

The stage is set for a pair of blockbuster arcs that will define Days of Our Lives for years to come. Tate’s custody battle brings emotional devastation and legal warfare, while EJ’s shooting mystery teases a supernatural twist that could rewrite Salem’s history.

At the center of both stories lies the question that makes soaps irresistible: when love, lies, and legacy collide, who will rise—and who will fall?